The Italian American War Veterans of the United States, Department of Rhode Island, RS 501 (c) non-profit is sponsoring a Desert Shield/Storm Honor flight and bus trip to Washington, DC, for the dedication of the National Desert Shield/Storm Memorial on October 24, 2026.

The estimated cost for booking planes and buses is $50,000.

The goal is to have approximately 500 veterans from New England attend the dedication. While most Desert Storm veterans are in their late 60s and early 70s, the current Honor Flight program does not qualify them for the Honor Flight.

"We want Desert Storm veterans to enjoy the dedication before most of them have to be confined to wheelchairs, or pass away."